WCU’s Frizzell wins service award

George Frizzell, head of special collections at Western Carolina University’s Hunter Library, is the 2013 recipient of the Thornton W. Mitchell Service Award for outstanding service to the archival profession in North Carolina.

Established in 2003, the award from the Society of North Carolina Archivists recognizes people who have promoted public awareness, appreciation or support of cultural heritage institutions; preserved historical and cultural resources; provided leadership in archival organizations or associations; or taught, trained or mentored new members of the profession.

A native of Jackson County, Frizzell is a descendant of a family that has lived in the area for more than 200 years. His professional career has been devoted to Hunter Library’s special collections. He joined the staff in 1982 as a research assistant and was named head of the department in 1989.

“More than one person has told me that I’ve got the best job on campus,” he said. “As far as a career, I’ve had the time of my life.”

In the library’s special collections are thousands of items documenting Southern Appalachian life and natural history, with particular attention to Western North Carolina. Manuscripts include letters, diaries, business and financial records, legal documents, literary productions, maps, news clippings and photographs. Several of the collections have been digitized and are available online.

Reading Room

So, Scout (Jean Louise) comes back home to Maycomb — where “everyone is either kin or almost kin”— at age 26 and after being “away” and living in New York City for several years. Sixteen years have gone by since we last heard from her in the pages of To Kill a Mockingbird, and the Maycomb she comes home to isn’t the same Maycomb we know from the 1960 novel.

This Must Be the Place

For the better part of the last decade, my life during the summer was music festivals. From Maine to California, Michigan to Arkansas, I was there, in an endless crowd, cheering on the greatest musicians of our time. In those innumerable moments, I felt more alive, at home, and at peace, than anywhere else in the world.